Coaxial cable connectors



Jan. 29, 1963 K. L. BLAlsDELL coAxIAL CABLE CONNECTORS Filed April 21,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29,` 1963 Filed April 2l, 1959 K; L.BLAISDELL COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,7d,lh Patenteddan. 29, 1h53 3,076,169 CGAXIAL CABLE CNNECTDRS Kenneth L. Blaisdeil,Groton, Conn., assigner to the United States of America as representedby the Secretary of the Navy Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 897,963

12 Claims. (Cl. 339-89) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to couplings between coaxial cable ends.

Prior couplings between ends of coaxial cables have been not entirelysatisfactory because of high voltage breakdowns, particularly insubmarine RF transmissionline systems, in the air within the couplingmeans, such as may be due to avalanches of electrons which occur when arandom electron is suiciently accelerated by a high gradient to ionizemolecules of the air by collision. The breakdown voltage in a gasdecreases as the frequency is raised. Hence all air should be eliminatedfrom the connectors as far as possible, in the parts wherev a highvoltage gradient exists.

Objects of this invention are to produce an improved coupling betweencoaxial cable ends, which eifectively reduces danger of high voltagebreakdowns, which reduces to a minimum the presence of air where thereis a high voltage gradient, which insures a tight high pressure Contactbetween dat faces of the abutting ends of the dielectric bodiesfat thecoupling which is free of entrapped air alongthe inner conductor, withwhich air is substantially eliminated 'by contact between the dielectricbodies of the cable ends being coupled before metal-to-metal contactprevents further movement, with practical tolerances in the criticalregions, which enables easy, rapid and convenient coupling anduncoupling of the cable ends, which prevents movement of moisturethrough the coupling between the exterior and interior thereof, andwhich is relatively simple, practical, durable, effective, compact,strong and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages Will appear from the following descriptionof one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will beparticularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional elevation through two coaxial cableends coupled in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar View separately of one of the dielectric bodiesemployed in the coupling;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of a coupling part of the same; and

FiG. 4 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale or" one end of thecoupling part of FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the coupling is betweencable ends 1 and 2. Each cable end has an inner conductor 3 and asurrounding concentric conductor d, such conductors being separated byan interposed body 5 of suitable dielectric material. The outerconductor is encircled by an insulating layer or sheath 6. In preparingeach cable end for the coupling, its outer conductor 4 and thedielectric body 5 therein are out off short of the inner conductor 3 atits free end vso as to leave an endwise extension 7 of the innerconductor.v Fitted over each free end of the cable which is to becoupled, is a body 8 of high quality dielectric such as atetrafluoroethylene polymer, one of which is marketed under thetrademark Teflon Each such body S has a recess 9 in its end face whichabuts a cable end, and the peripheral wall 10` of that body which formsthe peripheral wall of this recess 9 is outwardly divergent, asillustrated. This body 8 is shown separately in FIG. 2. Each body has apassage 11 from end to end, one end of which lits loosely over theprojecting end '7 of an inner conductor 3, and the divergent wall 19 ofthe recess 9, telescopes over the adjacent end of the dielectric body 5.The outer sheath 6 of insulating material on each cable end is cut backsomewhat from the free end of that cable end so as to expose theouterconductor 4 for a short distance from the cable end, and then theouter conductor is turned back outwardly upon and spaced from itself, asat 12, so as to provide a rearwardly facing annular channel 13 which islocated some distance from the free end of the dielectric body 5 of thecable. Disposed on the free end portion of each dielectric body 5 is anannular wedge ring 14 which rits fairly snugly with the end of the bodyS,but is able to slide lengthwise alongV the cable on such dielectricbody. The inner periphery of the Wedge ring i 14 is cylindrical and itsouter corner edges are beveled capable of being deformed to to providetapered side edges. The beveled or tapered edge of the wedge ringnearest the free end of the related dielcctric body 5 is complementaryto and ts the outwardly divergent peripheral wall 1t)` of the recess 9.

Another ring 15 surrounds and slides on the exposed periphery of thefree end of each body 5 of dielectric, and it has a tapered wall 16which is complementary to the adjacent tapered edge of the wedge ring 14against which it abuts. The turned back end 12 of the outer conductor`abuis against the untapered or unbeveled side edge of the ring 1'5, asshown in FIG. 1. Also surrounding the outer conductor 4 of each cableend and slidable thereon, adjacent the turned back edge 12, is a clampring 17, whose opposite side edges are offset radially from one anotherwith the one edge thereof which is of smaller diameter than the otheredge received in the channel 13 ofthe turned back edge 12 of the outerconductor. The edge of the ring 1'7 which is of largerydiameter isslidingly received on the outer periphery of the sheath 6 so as totelescope slightly over the end of sheath 6. The free end of eachdielectric body S is reduced in diameter through a tapered transitionportion 18, and a metal sleeve 19 telescopes over and surrounds the bodyil of dielectric material of one cable end, such as the end l and alsotelescopes over the adjacent rings li, 15 and 17, and extends along andis radially spaced slightly from the sheath 6.

A tubular gland 2@ is threaded into the open end of the metal sleeve 19at its end which lits over the sheath 6, and its inner end abutsedgewise against a side edge of the ring 17 so as to force it and theturned baclr edge 12 of the outer conductor against the ring l5. Thispressure causes the ring 15 to ride upwardly on the tapered edge of thewedge ring 14 into contact with the inner periphery of sleeve 19 andalso force the ring 14 firmly against the peripheral wall lil of therecess 9 so as to make a firm contact therewith. The sleeve 19, at theend of its passage which is away from the cable end, is reduced indiam-l eter through a tapered transition passage wall 21 which iscomplementary to the tapered passage wall 18 of the body 8 of dielectricmaterial. This wall 21 of the passage oi the sleeve 19 serves as aninternal abutment which engages with the tapered wall 18 of thedielectric body 8 and cams it iirmly against the end of the dielectricbody 5 of the cable. The free end of sleeve 19 extends a short distancebeyond vthe end of the dielectric body 8. The sleeve 19, as well as therings l5- and. 17 are of metal orother electrically conducting material.Ring 14 is of an insulating material having a low loss factor at radiofrequency andi press firmly against the cable i dielectric, therebycompensating for the large tolerance common in coaxial cables and alsothereby lilling up voids which otherwise might permit corona or promotebreakdown.

The other cable end 2. is similarly itted into a metal sleeve 22 whichis generally similar to the sleeve 19 except that at its extreme freeend it telescopes over the free end of the sleeve 19 where `they meet atthe coupling. The sleeve 2.2 is also made of metal. Encircling the freeend of the sleeve Z2. and rotatably thereon is another sleeve 23 whichis also of metal. It is conlined against endwise sliding motion on thefree end of sleeve 22 by a split spring ring 24 which is received in anannular channel or groove 25 provided in the external periphery of thesleeve 22 a short distance inwardly from its extreme free end edge. Thissplit ring is also received in an internal annular groove or channel 26in the sleeve 23, so that this split ring confines the sleeve 23 againstendwise movement on the sleeve 22 but leaves it free for rotationthereon. This sleeve 23 acts as an extension of the outer end of sleeve22, and at its free end has internal screw threads 27 which mesh withexternal screw threads 28 on the periphery of the sleeve 19 beyond thetelescoping portions between the two sections 19 and 22. By rotating thesleeve 2.3 to engage its threads 27 with the threads 28 of the sleeve19, it is possible to couple the adjacent ends of sleeves 19 and 22through sleeve 23 and draw them toward one another while in telescopicrelationship on their adjacent ends. An elastic sealing ring or O-ring29 is conined in an annular channel 30 in the exterior periphery of theextending end of the sleeve 19 where it is in sliding engagement withthe inner periphery of the tree end of sleeve 22, and where the adjacentends of the sleeves 19 and 22 are in sliding telescoping relationship.This sealing ring or O-ring is under radial compression between theinner periphery of the sleeve 22 and the body of the channel or groove30, and thus provides a fluid resistant seal between the telescopingends of the sections 19 and 22. The lengths of the dielectric bodies 8on the cable ends are such that the reduced ends of the bodies 8 on thetwo cable ends will engage endwise and abut with one another firmlybefore the telescoping ends of the sleeves 19 and 22 are limited bycontact with one another at the end edges of the telescoping sleeves.Thus, there is a slight air gap or space between each free end ofsleeves 19 and 22 and the abutment on the other sleeve, which enablesthe sleeves 19 and 22 to be drawn together far enough to ensure lirmabutting contact between the adjacent ends of the dielectric bodies Softhe two cabled ends.

A metal ring 31 is secured liush in a channel or rabbet 32 in the innerperiphery or passage of the sleeve 2v2 a short distance from its freeend. The ring 31 has a tubular, thin flange 33 extending endwise thereofalong and in contact with the free reduced diameter end of the body 8within the sleeve 22, and the passage Wall of reduced cross section inthe sleeve 19, which lies along the liange 33, is slightly outwardlydivergent so that as the ends of the sleeves 19 and 22 telescope incoupling the cable ends 1 and 2, this divergent wall 34 will engage andtelescope with the flange 33 in a sliding cam action thereon and forceit against the reduced end of the body 8 in the sleeve 2,2, and thusensure a lirm electrical contact and connection between the sleeve 19,flange 33, ring 31, and the sleeve 22. Flange 33 is slit longitudinallyinto several sections or fingers to provide the flexibility required forthis sliding contact. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2 where the body 8of dielectric material is illustrated, the free end face of the reduceddiameter end of at least one body 8, preferably is beveled or deviatesslightly from a plane through the free end of that body 8 perpendicularto its longitudinal axis by receding slightly from that plane as itprogresses outwardly from the portion of the end face at the passage 1lthrough the body. Preferably both free ends of the bodies 8 aresimilarly beveled or made to recede from such plane in order that thebodies 8` canY be all identical. Such a deviation from such plane can beadvantageously made about l degree. Thus, the end face of the reducedend of each body 8 is slightly frustoconical by about one degreedeviation from a plane that abuts the free end and is perpendicular tothe axis of passage 11.

Since the dielectric material of which the bodies 8 are made is ahigh-grade dielectric which is slightly elastic, it follows when twosuch ends of the bodies 8 abut, they will engage tirst at the margin oilthe passage 11 and then, as the abutting pressure increases, the contactbetween those end faces will spread outwardly from the initial line ofcontact at the margin of the passage until the end faces of the bodies 8contact irmly'with one another over their entire end faces. During thisaction any air which is disposed between the end faces of the bodies 8will be progressively squeezed outwardly, so that none will remaintrapped between the abutting end faces of the bodies 8 when the couplingof the cable ends has been completed.

The passages 11 in the two bodies 8 of the dielectric material arealigned with one another, and receive and hold therein metal conductingmeans which fits over and connects the extending ends 7 of. the innerconductors of the ytwo cable ends, and this connecting conducting meansis formed of endwise telescopic sections that are engaged as the cableends are brought toward one another before the coupling is completed.This enables preliminary adjustment of the sleeves 19 and 22 todifferent extents of telescoping relationship when bringing the ends ofthe bodies 8 of dielectric material into firm strong contact with oneanother, as explained above.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this connecting meansbetween the inner conductor terminals 7 of the cable ends includes ametal member 35 which has in one end a recess 36 providing a tubularsleeve 37 on its end, which telescopes over and snugly fits the adjacentend 7 of the inner conductor that is received in the passage 11 of theblock 8 of dielectric material which fits over the cable end 1. Thisprovides a firm electrical contact between the inner conductor and themember 35. The recess 36 is longer or deeper than the received end 7 ofthe inner conductor, which permits the member 35 to be adjustable alongthe received end 7 of the inner conductor.

Another member 38 of metal is received in the passage 11 of the otherbody 8 which is within the sleeve 22. This member 3S has a recess 39, inone end, which provides a tubular sleeve 40 that snugly fits over andtelescopes with the end 7 of the inner conductor on the cabled end Z.Preferably in the passage 11 of each of the blocks 8, there is provideda slight internal shoulder 41 which faces toward the abutting endsbetween the blocks which limits the movement of the members 35 and 38along the passage 11 as they telescope over the inner conductor ends 7.The member 35 terminates within the passage 11 of the block 8 which iswithin the sleeve 19, a short distance from the reduced end of thatblock 8, and in that end of the member 35 there is another deep recess42 which provides a tubular sleeve 43 as an end terminal of member 35.The member 38 has a rounded end portion 44 of reduced cross sectionwhich is slit endwise from its free end for a substantial distance, asat 45, so as to provide spring fingers which telescope within andresiliently fit the walls of the recess 42 in member 35 so as to providea firm electrical contact between the members 35 and 38. The free end ofthe ange 43 which telescopes with the member 38 terminates short of thejunction between the reduced end and the larger diameter of the member3S, so as to enable substantial endwise sliding movement of the reducedend 44 of the member 38 in the recess 42 of member 35.

The free end edge of the sleeve 43 is rounded as at 46, in order toreduce the danger of electrical discharge from the free edge of thesleeve 43. For the same reason, the free end of the member 38 istapered. The maximum dof/enea diameters of members and 3S are equal. Theinner diameters of Ene sleeve 19 and of the -ange 33 are also equal. Theratio of outer to inner diameters in the vicinity of the abutting endsof the bodies 8 is made approximately equal to 2.7, thereby minimizingthe voltage gradient. One of the sleeves such as sleeve 19 may carry aperipheral mounting tiange 417, by which the coupled ends may besupported in any suitable manner, not shown.

It is believed that the manner of coupling and unconplingV the cableends in accordance with this invention will be apparent from thedetailed description hereinabove. The two cable ends 1 and 2 may beuncoupled by merely rotating the sleeves 23 to disengage its threads42'7 from the threads 28 of the sleeve 19, `during which the two cableends are pulled apart and the member 33 is withdrawn from the recess 42.The cable ends 1 and 2 may be assembled by bringing them into end ,toendvrelationship, inserting the rounded end 44 of the member 33 into therecess 42, telescoping the sleeves 19 and 22, and reengaging the threads27 of the Vsleeve 23 with the teeth `23 on the sleeve 19. By rotatingthe sleeve 23 it vwill draw the telescoping endsof sleeves 19 and 22together until the ends of the bodies 8 of dielectric material abut andprogressively squeeze outwardly any air that may lie between theabutting end faces of the dielectric blocks 3. v

l lt will be observed that with this arrangement, the dan- 'ger ofbreakdowns due to high voltage, are substantially eliminated, theentrapped air is reduced to a minimum wherever there is ahighvoltagegradient, and a rm electrical contact is made at alltimes between theinner conductor ends I of the two cable ends 1 and 2 whenever the cableends arecoupled, as explained above.

A firm electrical connection is made between the outer conductors 4 andtliersleevesl 19 and 22, and between sleeves 1,9 and 22 where they arecoupled. I l It will be understood that'various `changes in the details,materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein describedand illustrated inorder to explain the nature of the invention, may bemade by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to be coupled, the inner conductor extendsendwise outwardly beyond the `dielectric between the inner and outerconductors, and a dielectric sheath surrounds the outer conductor, whichcomprises a dielectric body having a recess in an end which telescopesslightly over the end of the cabledielectric .on yone cable end, whichcable dielectric separates the ,inner and outer conductors of said cableend, the inner peripheral Wall of said ,body which defines said recessbeing outwardly divergent from the bottom of said recess abutting theend of the cable, the outer conductor of said cable end being turnedback upon and in spaced relation to itself and uncovering the peripheral-surface of the `free end of said cable dielectric for some distancefrom the free end of the cable dielectric, an annular deformableinsulating` wedge ring with a low loss factor at radio frequency havingan inner cylindrical periphery surrounding 'md sliding on said uncoveredsurface of said cable dielectric, and having its end edges tapered in`directions Vaway, from one another, with the innermost tapered edgefitting and complementary with said outwardly divergent inner wall lofsaid recess, a clamping ring also surrounding and lsliding on saiduncovered surface of said cable dielectric disposed 'on the cable andinwardly froml said wedge ring, and having an outwardly divergent endwall whichtelescopes over and slides on the tapered outer edge of saidwedge ring, said turned back end of the outer conductor abutting againstan end of said clamping in the'turned back conductor end, and its otherend enlarged in diameter and surrounding and sliding on the outerperiphery of said sheath, a metal sleeve fitted over said cable end,including said rings and said sheath at the cable end, and having aninternal shoulder directly abutting said body and conning it against thefree end o` said cable dielectric, a tubular gland surrounding saidcable end `outwardly beyond said sleeve and'threaded into the adjacentend of said sleeve and there abutting an end of said another ring,whereby as said gland is threaded into said sleeve, it will force saidrings tow-ard one another and against the divergent wall defining theperiphery of said recess, with the clamping ring forcing said wedge ringinto wedging contact with said `divergent wall of said recess to form aseal therewith, and anchoring said sleeve and body to the cable end,means for coupling together the sleeves on adjacent cable ends with theadjacent ends of said dielectric bodies abutting endwise, and meanscarried by said abutting bodies and detachably coupled to the extendingends of said inner conductors for connecting together the innerconductor ends.

2. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to be coupled, the inner conductor extendsendwise outwardly beyond the dielectric that spaces apart the inner andouter conductors, which comprises a body of -dielectric materialtelescoping over each cable end having an external tapered shoulder andalso abutting against the entire end of the cable dielectric around theinner conductor and having a passage from end to end thereof, the innerend of which passage removably receives the said extension of said innerconductor, with said bodies to be coupled substantially identical andabutting endwise one another and with said passages forming a continuousstraight passage from one inner conductor extension t-o the other, metalmeans encircling and separable from said abutting ends of said bodiesand adjacent ends of the outer conductors of the cable ends, andcoupling the cable ends to one another against separation andconductively coupling together said outer conductors, and metal meansdisposed in said continuous passage and having sliding frictionalcontact with the ends of said adjacent inner conductor extensions forelectrically connecting them together, said encircling means beingformed of coupled sleeves, each section of which telescopes over an endof the cable and has an internal tapered shoulder abutting the taperedshoulder of said body therein and removably coniining it upon the cableend over which it telescopes.

V3. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to beV coupled, th'e inner conductorextends endwise outwardly beyond the dielectric that spaces apart theinner and outer conductors, which comprises substantially identicalbodies, each of dielectric material for each cable end separate from thecable end and each abutting an entire end of the cable dielectric aroundthe inner conductor therein and having a passage from end to endthereof, the inner end of which passage receives the said extension ofsaid inner conductor with said bodies on cable ends to be coupledabutting solely endwise one another and with said passages forming acontinuous straight passage from one inner conductor extension to theother, metal means encircling said abutting ends of said bodies andadjacent ends of the' outer conductors of the cable ends, havinginternal shoulders engaging said bodies and individually and removablyconfining them upon the cable end on which it is mounted, and couplingthe cable ends to one another against separation and conductivelycoupling togethersaid outer conductors, and metal means disposed in saidcontinuous passage and having sliding frictional Contact with the endsof said adjacent inner conductor `extensions `for electricallyconnecting them together, said metal means in said passagebeing formedof two sections frictionally fitting and telescoping with one anotherend to end, each section at its free end telescoping with and antenasfrictionally fitting the adjacent end extension of said inner conductor.

4. The coupling according to claim 3, wherein the male one of saidsections where they telescope with one another, is split lengthwise fromits free end to form prongs that are pressed toward one another infitting and telescoping with the female one of said sections.

5. The coupling according to claim 3, wherein said sections are coupledtogether closely adjacent the abutting ends of said bodies, and the freeend edge of the outside one of said sections is rounded to preventdischarge therefrom of a high voltage along the abutting end faces ofsaid bodies to said encircling means.

6. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to be coupled, the inner conductor extendsendwise outwardly beyond the dielectric that spaces apart the inner andouter conductors, which comprises a body of dielectric material for andseparate from each cable end4 abutting the end of the cable dielectricand having a passage from end to end thereof, the inner end of whichpassage receives the said extension of said inner conductor, with saidbodies on cable ends to be coupled being substantially identical andabutting endwise one another and with said passages forming a continuousstraight passage from one inner conductor extension to the other, saidbodies being substantially identical and having their end faces whichabut one another slightly divergent outwardly from the said straightpassages through them, and individually removable from the ends of thecable against which they abut, metal means encircling but separable fromsaid abutting ends of said bodies and adjacent ends of the outerconductors of the cable ends, and coupling the cable ends to one anotheragainst separation and conductively coupling together said outerconductors, and metal means disposed in said continuous passage andhaving sliding frictional contact with the ends of said adjacent innerconductor extensions for electrically connecting them together, saidencircling means including a section telescoping over each cable end,and the free ends of the sections telescoping with one another andhaving a sliding fit at approximately the abutting ends of said bodiesof dielectric material, with inner one of such -telescoping ends spacedwell from the outer edges of the abutting ends of the dielectric bodies,the telescoping surfaces of said sections having a sealing ring underradical compression confined between them, and means on the exterior ofsaid telescoping parts of said sections for coupling them againstseparation, the lengths of the dielectric bodies causing their abuttingends to engage endwise before the telescoping ends with the sliding titreach their maximum coupling movement.

7. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to be coupled, the inner conductor extendsendwise outwardly beyond the dielectric that spaces apart the inner andouter conductors, which comprises a body of dielectric material for eachcable end abutting the end of the cable dielectric and having a passagefrom end to end thereof, the inner end of which passage receives thesaid extension of said inner conductor, with said bodies on cable endsto be coupled substantially identical but abutting endwise one anothersolely in a common plane and with said passages forming a continuousstraight passage from one inner conductor extension to the other, metalmeans encircling and separable from said abutting ends of said bodiesand adjacent ends of the outer conductors of the cable ends, andcoupling the cable ends to one another against separation andconductively coupling together said outer conductors, and metal meansdisposed in said continuous passage and having sliding frictionalcontact with the ends of said adjacent inner conductor extensions forelectrically connecting them together, said encircling means including asection separable from but telescoping over the exterior of each cableend including the sheath thereon, andthe free ends of the sectionstelescoping with one another and having a sliding tit at approximatelythe abutting ends of said bodies of dielectric material, said means onthe exterior of the telescoping sections being rotatably contined to oneof said sections and threaded to the other of said sections.

8. The coupling according to claim 6, wherein said means on the exteriorof the telescoping sections is a sleeve rotatable on one of saidsections and contind thereon against endwise movement by a retainingsplit ring in aligned annulargrooves in the abutting surfaces betweenthe said sleeve and one section, and is threaded to the other of saidsections.

9. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein the adjacent ends of saidbodies of dielectric material engage one another and abut before theadjacent ends of the sections of said encircling means abut endwise andlimit their further telescoping movement.

l0. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables in which, at the ends to be coupled, the inner conductor extendsendwise outwardly beyond the dielectric that spaces apart the innerV andouter conductors, which comprises a body of dielectric material for eachcable end abutting the end of the cable dielectric and having a passagefrom end to end thereof, said bodies being substantially identical, theinner end of which passage receives the said etxension of said innerconductor, with said bodies on cable ends to be coupled abutting endwiseone another and with said passages forming a continuous straight passagefrom one inner conductor extension to the other, metal means encirclingsaid abutting ends of said bodies and adjacent ends of the outerconductors of the cable ends, and coupling the cable ends to one anotheragainst separation and conductively coupling together said outerconductors, and metal means disposed in said continuous passage andhaving sliding frictional contact with the ends oi said adjacent innerconductor extensions for electrically connecting them together, saidencircling means including a section telescoping over each cable end,and the free ends of the sections telescoping with one another andhaving a sliding tit at approximately the abutting ends of said bodiesof dielectric material, means on the exterior of said telescoping partsof said sections for coupling the sections together and drawing themtogether until the adjacent ends of said bodies of dielectric materialengage and abut one another under pressure, the outer part of one ofsaid sections where they telescope having fixed thereto a metal memberwhich lies along and abuts against the periphery of the adjacent end ofthe body of dielectric material within that one section, the innerperiphery of the other of said sections at its end which telescopes withthat one section being slightly divergent toward its free end to engageand slide along in a cam action, with said member as said sections aredrawn together until the adjacent ends of said bodies abut with oneanother.

11. The coupling according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of radii of theouter conductor to the inner conductor at the abutting ends ofdielectric material is approximately the optimum of approximately 2.7.

l2. A coupling for connecting together the ends of high voltage coaxialcables having an inner conductor, a surrounding envelope of a dielectricmaterial for such conductor, and a metal sheath surrounding suchenvelope and serving as an outer conductor, and an insulating sheathsurrounding and enclosing said outer conductor which comprises adielectric body having one end telescoping over the free end of theinner conductor and uncovered envelope only of each cable end, a twosection, metal sleeve-like coupling having one section encircling one ofsaid dielectric bodies and the other encircling the other of saiddielectric bodies, the sections being detachably coupled together withthe dielectric bodies abutting end to end and held in that relation bysaid sections, the inner end of each dielectric body where it telescopes over the envelope of that cable end 4being divergingly taperedoutwardly in a lengthwise direction, a wedge ring having an innerperiphery within each said section, slidingly tting said envelope andhaving its ends tapered, with one tapered end fitting and complementaryto the divergingly tapered end of the dielectric body it engages, ametal ring within each section encircling said envelope on that adjacentcable end, abutting endwise against and slidingly overr'unning the othertapered end o-f said wedge ring, said metal ring being operable, when itis forced along the cable end toward the wedge ring, to cam the wedgering against the adjacent end of the adjacent dielectric body anditself, by engagement with the adjacent tapered end of the wedge ring,be forced against the surrounding section of the coupling, meansadjustable along and within each sleeve section for clamping the outerconductor against said metal ring to complete a metal to metalconducting path from the outer conductor on each cable end through thecoupled sections to the outer conductor on the other cable end and meanscarried by abutting dielectric bodies, when they are abutting oneanother, for electrically coupling .the inner conductors of Ithe coupledcable ends.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS WebberJuly 10, Stenstrom July 27, Devol Sept. 28, Warren Oct. 26, Salati Ian.30, Hennesey et al. Dec. 8, Salisbury Mar. 23, Min-to Mar. 8, MelcherSept. 4, Malek Jan. 20, Bird et al. Dec. 27, Chess May 30,

FOREIGN PATENTS France May 13, Great Britain Apr. 12, Great Britain July10,

2. A COUPLING FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF HIGH VOLTAGE COAXIALCABLES IN WHICH, AT THE ENDS TO BE COUPLED, THE INNER CONDUCTOR EXTENDSENDWISE OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE DIELECTRIC THAT SPACES APART THE INNER ANDOUTER CONDUCTORS, WHICH COMPRISES A BODY OF DIELECTRIC MATERIALTELESCOPING OVER EACH CABLE END HAVING AN EXTERNAL TAPERED SHOULDER ANDALSO ABUTTING AGAINST THE ENTIRE END OF THE CABLE DIELECTRIC AROUND THEINNER CONDUCTOR AND HAVING A PASSAGE FROM END TO END THEREOF, THE INNEREND OF WHICH PASSAGE REMOVABLY RECEIVES THE SAID EXTENSION OF SAID INNERCONDUCTOR, WITH SAID BODIES TO BE COUPLED SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL ANDABUTTING ENDWISE ONE ANOTHER AND WITH SAID PASSAGES FORMING A CONTINUOUSSTRAIGHT PASSAGE FROM ONE INNER CONDUCTOR EXTENSION TO THE OTHER, METALMEANS ENCIRCLING AND SEPARABLE FROM SAID ABUTTING ENDS OF SAID BODIESAND ADJACENT ENDS OF THE OUTER CONDUCTORS OF THE CABLE ENDS, ANDCOUPLING THE CABLE ENDS TO ONE ANOTHER AGAINST SEPARATION ANDCONDUCTIVELY COUPLING TOGETHER SAID OUTER CONDUCTORS, AND METAL MEANSDISPOSED IN SAID CONTINUOUS PASSAGE AND HAVING SLIDING FRICTIONALCONTACT WITH THE ENDS OF SAID ADJACENT INNER CONDUCTOR EXTENSIONS FORELECTRICALLY CONNECTING THEM TOGETHER, SAID ENCIRCLING MEANS BEINGFORMED OF COUPLED SLEEVES, EACH SECTION OF WHICH TELESCOPES OVER AN ENDOF THE CABLE AND HAS AN INTERNAL TAPERED SHOULDER ABUTTING THE TAPEREDSHOULDER OF SAID BODY THEREIN AND REMOVABLY CONFINING IT UPON THE CABLEEND OVER WHICH IT TELESCOPES.